Joe Schuyler

The Taming of the Shrew

The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare’s comedic battle of the sexes, has been reinterpreted countless times since it was penned 400-some-odd years ago. The story, which recounts Petruchio’s calculated attempts to subdue the fiesty Kate and win her dowry, inspired three operas and the Broadway musical Kiss Me Kate, was interpreted for film by Franco Zeffirelli, and served as the basis for the classic The Quiet Man and the recent, not-so-classic 10 Things I Hate About You and Deliver Us From Eva.

Now, Capital Repertory Theatre has tackled the tale, and presents its own interpretation—set in late 1950s Italy and reminiscent of the dynamic wit and chemistry between Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. Eric Martin Brown and Kim Stuffer (pictured) portray the volatile couple. Director Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill explained that she “wanted to set the play in this era because it was a time when women were beginning to test their mettle with men and yet they were still bound by society’s conventions of femininity.” The message of the original play remains controversial, and leaves room for exploration and interpretation.

You can find out how the folks at Capital Repertory Theatre (111 N. Pearl St., Albany) chose to spin the classic tale starting tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 29) at 8 PM. Tickets range from $32-$44, and group rates are available. For more information, or to make reservations, call 445-7469.

Keller Williams and the WMDs

After 15 years touring almost exclusively as a solo act, singer and 12-string guitarist Keller Williams must have gotten lonely. Williams built his reputation as a one-man, pseudo-folk jam band, looping his riffs and essentially accompanying himself. But now he has formed a full band, the WMDs, and taken them on the road.

Stepping into the rhythm guitar slot, Williams is joined by Gibb Droll on lead guitar, Keith Mosely on bass and Jeff Snipe on drums. The new company gives Williams fresh fuel for his signature improvisations.

According to the Boston Globe, Williams is “pushing jam rock outside the confines of 15-minute guitar solos. It’s about time someone embraced the genre with such creativity.”

Williams and the WMDs will perform at the Egg (Empire State Plaza, Albany) on tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 29) at 8 PM. Tickets are $26, and can be purchased by calling the box office at 473-1845.

Musicians of Ma’alwyck

Local stalwarts the Musicians of Ma’alwyck are very excited about the program they will present this Saturday night at Union College and Sunday afternoon at the Opalka Gallery. Titled Moonstruck, the performances will feature an expanded ensemble—including soprano Gene Marie Callahan Kern—under the direction of Lanfranco Marcelletti.

Callahan Kern will be featured in performances of Schoenberg’s haunting song cycle Pierrot Lunaire and Richard Strauss’ moving Four Last Songs. Also on the program: the piano trio Nothing Forgotten by American-Welsh composer Hilary Tann.

Musicians of Ma’alwyck will present their Moonstruck concerts Saturday (March 1) at 8 PM at Union College’s Emerson Concert Hall (Taylor Music Center, Union Street, Schenectady) and Sunday (March 2) at 3 PM at the Opalka Gallery (Sage College of Albany, 140 New Scotland Ave., Albany). Tickets are $20 adults, $10 students. For more info and to make reservations, call 377-3623.